Marina Masuma Ahmad is a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist, serving as the London Assembly Member (AM) for Lambeth and Southwark since her election in May 2021. Born in Bangladesh and moving to England at a very young age, Ahmad grew up on a council estate and pursued higher education at the University of Surrey, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and History.
Her career has spanned various sectors, including public, voluntary, and health services, alongside being a trained barrister with experience working for the Crown Prosecution Service. Before her current role in the London Assembly, Ahmad was active in local government as a representative for the Crystal Palace ward on Bromley Council from 2018 to 2021, where she also served as the Council's education spokesperson.
Her attempts to broaden her political influence included contesting the Beckenham constituency in the general elections of 2015, 2017, and 2019. Despite not being shortlisted for the prospective parliamentary candidate in Camberwell and Peckham, she continued her political aspirations by seeking nomination in Beckenham and Penge in November 2023.
Ahmad's contributions to social policy and anti-racism are highlighted by her founding of the think tank Race on the Agenda. Her tenure in the London Assembly has been marked by her roles as deputy chair of the Economy committee and as a member of the Police and Crime committee.
In 2023, she became the chair of the Economy Committee, actively engaging in campaigns against poverty in London, including initiatives for childhood hunger, advocating for free school meals, and supporting an increase to Universal Credit. Her community activism is evident in her efforts to save local bus routes, maintain train ticket offices, and support women's football.
Marina Ahmad resides in West Wickham with her husband, a local GP, and their two children. Her salary as an AM is £62,761, and she represents the political group Labour Group.
Her personal and professional life showcases a deep commitment to public service, education advocacy, and the fight against poverty and racism within London.
The Labour Party is a prominent political force in the United Kingdom, characterized by its alignment with social democracy and democratic socialism. Situated on the centre-left of the political spectrum, Labour has played a significant role in British politics since its founding in 1900.
Emerging from the trade union movement and socialist parties of the 19th century, it initially served to represent the interests of the working class.
As of the last general election in 2019, Labour holds the position of the Official Opposition in the UK Parliament, having secured the second-largest number of seats. It is the largest party in the Welsh Parliament and the third-largest in the Scottish Parliament.
Internationally, Labour is affiliated with the Party of European Socialists and the Progressive Alliance and holds observer status in the Socialist International.
The Labour Party, under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, is focused on restoring economic stability to the UK. They advocate for strict fiscal policies to prevent unnecessary expenditures, promoting transparency and efficiency through new oversight bodies like the Covid Corruption Commissioner and an Office for Value for Money.
Their economic plan is designed to contrast with the perceived instability under the Conservative Party, emphasizing responsible financial management and targeted investments for growth.
Labour criticizes the current government for reducing the UK’s defense capabilities and outlines a plan to revitalize the nation's military resources. The party proposes a comprehensive Strategic Defence and Security Review, supporting the armed forces more robustly, and establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to ensure the security of the nation and uphold the interests of military personnel.
The party plans a significant overhaul of the UK's immigration and border security systems, aiming to create a more efficient and secure framework. Labour’s strategy includes enhancing the enforcement of border laws, dismantling human trafficking networks, and improving the asylum system to ensure it is both cost-effective and secure.
Labour intends to undertake substantial reforms within the National Health Service (NHS) to address inefficiencies and the backlog caused by Conservative policies. The plan includes investments in healthcare infrastructure such as more MRI and CT scanners, and increasing the number of healthcare professionals to provide better service and care.
Tackling crime and enhancing community safety are central to Labour’s agenda, with plans to increase the police presence and introduce new community policing measures. The party emphasizes preventive strategies, especially focusing on youth crime and the root causes of antisocial behavior, to foster safer communities.
Labour commits to transformative educational reforms to ensure equitable opportunities for all. These reforms include recruiting more teachers, overhauling the curriculum, and investing in school infrastructure to equip students for modern challenges and ensure access to high-quality education and lifelong learning opportunities across the country.
In response to environmental concerns and the energy crisis, Labour advocates for establishing a new publicly-owned clean energy company and expanding renewable energy resources. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on foreign energy, combat climate change, and stimulate economic growth through the creation of sustainable jobs.
The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, with deputy leader Angela Rayner, and General Secretary David Evans, positions itself as a centre-left party, embodying social democratic and democratic socialist ideologies. Founded in 1900, Labour has grown from its trade union roots to become a major political force in the UK, advocating for social justice, economic reform, and public service enhancement.
The party maintains active branches across the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and engages with various international socialist and social democratic groups, reflecting its commitment to broad-based, progressive policies.
Labour advocates for a blend of social democracy and democratic socialism, aiming to balance market economics with social welfare policies. It promotes government intervention in the economy, fair distribution of wealth, and comprehensive public services, including healthcare and education.
The party maintains close ties with the Co-operative Party, with many Labour MPs sitting in Parliament as Labour Co-operative representatives. While it supports the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland, Labour continues to organize and maintain a presence there, adapting its strategies to address both local and national issues effectively.
Overall, the Labour Party remains a key player in shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of the United Kingdom, committed to advancing the principles of fairness, equality, and social justice.